Sun, sea, sand and souks!
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Agadir isn't as widely known as some of Morocco's other major destinations. While often perceived as a beach resort, Agadir actually offers a much richer experience than sun and sand alone. It was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1960, the city has modern infrastructure alongside glimpses into its Berber heritage and a vibrant moroccan cultural scene. Our recent trip there revealed a city of contrasts offering a really diverse range of experiences. It definitely took us by surprise! Have a read of our experience to find out what Agadir is really like.
The Souk El Had, Agadir's (and Africa's) largest market, offers a vibrant immersion into local life and culture. It really does have everything you can imagine. Wandering through the maze of stalls provides an opportunity to engage with vendors and experience the energy of the marketplace. Don’t forget to haggle! As ever, be careful with your belongings and money - especially if the market is busy. You're almost certain to get lost and that’s the point. Although it can get a bit repetitive with the stalls selling the same things, it's definitely worth a visit whilst in Agadir.
We would say to guide yourselves around the market rather than going round with a local - you will get offered this, especially on nearby local streets. The souk is a fair distance away from the promenade and beaches however it is walkable.
There's so much more to Agadir than the souk, though. Ascending to the Agadir Kasbah overlooking the city, provides panoramic views of the coastline, the marina, and the surrounding landscape. While the Kasbah itself is largely in ruins, the elevated viewpoint offers a new perspective of Agadir's layout and a beautiful view of the ocean.
The cable car up (which is part of DaniaLand) adds to the experience, providing a unique view of the city - just make sure it's not too windy! The cable car costs 120 MAD for a return ticket, which is about £10. It's great in off-peak season as you'll most likely get a cable car to yourself! You could even combine your visit with a city tour like this one.
After this, the marina is where we spent a lot of our time - it's one of the nicest parts of Agadir in our opinion. Fishing boats coming in with their catch, the cries of the seagulls, the smell of the sea… it's a working marina, not just a tourist attraction. But it is so, so picturesque too. We ate some incredible food there, at little restaurants right on the quayside.
We ate at Pure Passion which is a renowned restaurant in Agadir and enjoyed it. They even provide a free transfer service from your hotel to the restaurant. We also had coffee and a stunning pastry in the Espresso Lab, which has a lovely terrace to sit and enjoy the views.
Whilst mentioning food, the main beach promenade is full of restaurants and bars. Le Nil Bleu is in a stunning location, right on the beachfront, with a great selection of food and drinks on offer. We also visited another stunning bar - this one was called Les Blancs. This place was special as it opens late, serves amazing cocktails, and the outdoor space is almost like a beach club. There are sun beds and comfy sofa-style seats to sit on and enjoy your drink in the sunshine.
Another absolute must-do in Agadir is visiting the Medina. Although it's a reconstruction of the original Medina, it's gorgeous and a more relaxed way to see and buy local products than visiting the souk. Even without any shops, cafes or stalls, we would've visited just for the beauty of the architecture and the chilled atmosphere you find. However, the shops can only be described as adorable! Tiny workshop-shops are nestled into different archways and local vendors offer advice on the best products.
From traditional Moroccan mint tea to handmade woodwork and jewellery, as well as argan oil and skincare products, you'll find the best gifts and souvenirs here. It may be pricier than the souk, but everything is still priced extremely reasonably, and the shopping experience will be relaxed and picturesque. If we went back to Agadir, we would 100% visit the Medina again. There are also lots of cafe spaces where you can relax with a drink or a meal.
The Medina is walkable from the centre of Agadir (we did it!), however it is a long walk, so unless you have lots of time and energy spare, it's probably worth getting a taxi at least one of the ways. Most of the walk is gorgeous and almost feels like you're in Miami, with huge, long roads lined with palm trees. You also walk past the King's Palace, however it's not open to tourists, even to view. However, when you get close to the Medina the walk turns more into wasteland / dirt tracks, and there isn't a lot of shelter or anywhere for refreshments if it's a really hot day.
We actually booked our trip to Agadir on a whim after Ryanair had really good and cheap flights from Manchester (which are often available, so keep an eye out). We visited in December - although you wouldn't have known with the weather. Agadir has an average of 360 sunny days per year, so there's not much chance of the weather ruining your trip here. If you're looking for a sunny week away from everything, or a quick city break in a different culture, Agadir ticks all of the boxes.
If you've never been to Agadir before, here's some additional information that might help you out:
How do I get to Agadir?
Agadir is easily accessible by air, as it has it's own airport with direct flights from major cities around the UK and Europe. The city isn't too far from the airport - but we recommend if you're not booking a package holiday to Morocco to book a transfer in advance. Pre-booked transfers are generally inexpensive, whereas with taxis you run the risk of being ripped off. The flight time from the UK varies, but is normally just under 4 hours.
Where should I stay in Agadir?
We stayed in Hotel Tildi which was only 5 minutes walk away from the main promenade. It was very affordable in the Winter season, and had everything we needed for a short stay. We felt completely safe and rooms were spacious and clean.
If you don't fancy this one, don't worry, there are plenty of other options for accommodation in Agadir. Have a look for something that will suit your group size and budget below:
Do I need a visa to visit Agadir?
Citizens of most countries (including the UK, all EU countries and the USA) do not need a visa to visit Morocco for a stay of up to 90 days for tourism reasons. However, it's best to check your country's travel advice to be sure.
What's the currency in Agadir?
The currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham. It's a closed currency, so you'll have to withdraw or exchange currency when you arrive. Be aware that all ATMs charge different fees and conversion rates, and some banks may also charge you to pay in Moroccan Dirham. We just withdrew a small amount from an ATM and used Monzo to pay on card, as they use the MasterCard Exchange rate without adding any fees.
What languages are spoken in Agadir?
The official languages of Morocco are Modern Standard Arabic and Standard Moroccan Berber. French is a very widely known language in Morocco, almost everyone speaks it, and English is widely spoken in Agadir as it is a major tourist destination. It's always polite to learn a few phrases if you can - we asked our taxi driver to teach us how to say thank you!
What is the weather like in Agadir?
As we mentioned earlier, Agadir has an average of 360 sunny days per year, so even in the winter you're very likely to get pleasant, if not hot and sunny weather.
Here's the average high / low temperatures for each season in Agadir:
Spring: 26°C / 13°C
Summer: 30°C / 18°C
Autumn: 27°C / 16°C
Winter: 22°C / 10°C
Here's the current weather in Agadir:
What's the time zone in Agadir?
Morocco doesn't put it's clocks forwards or back depending on the season like the UK and Europe do, so during winter, it's an hour ahead of the UK and the same time as most countries in mainland Europe.
However, when the clocks go forward for Summer, Morocco will be on the same time as the UK, an hour behind most countries in mainland Europe!
In Ramadan, they then put their clocks back one hour, so they'll be even further behind. Confusing, right? Honestly, just check the world clock on your phone for the easiest answer depending when you travel.
How long should I spend in Agadir?
We think that if you just want to see the sights and explore, 3 days is plenty of time to see all that Agadir has to offer at a relaxed pace. However, if you'd like to factor in lots of time to chill on a sunbed and spend time at the beach, there's definitely enough in the area to fill a week. If you have a spare day, there are always excursions from Agadir that you could take.
How should I dress in Agadir?
Agadir is a well-known tourist destination, so if you're wanting to relax in very hot weather by the beach in shorts, you will be absolutely fine to do so. However, be aware that wearing less modest clothing definitely attracts more stares than it would in other countries. It's important to respect the culture and dress as modestly as possible (loose clothing with long sleeves and long trousers if possible), especially if venturing into places like the souk or the city centre. Of course, if you're staying in a hotel, such as the ones provided in a package holiday, you're free to relax around the pool in whatever is comfortable.
As in most countries, these rules do apply more to women than men. As frustrating as it can be to have to do this, take extra care to dress modestly if you are a woman alone to avoid unwanted attention. At the end of the day, we have to remember as tourists that we are visitors in people's home city, and we should try to respect their social norms where possible to do so.
What are the best things to do in Agadir?
We always try and give you a few great recommendations of things to do on our Sightseekr Inspiration posts. If you're looking to fill your itinerary, have a look for the best activities, excursions and other things to do in Agadir on GetYourGuide below:
